We touched on the subject of Chris Smalling playing for the U21 side, on Saturday, briefly earlier this week.
Well since that article appeared Chris has played another ninety minutes for the England U21 side, this time out in Lithuania, and he appears to have found another fan in the shape of the England U21 boss, Stuart Pearce, who, after his Wembley performance, enthused,
“Chris has impressed me everyday in training and has been saying for the last two or three matches that I have to get him a game. Maybe he was fortunate that James Tomkins was out injured, but he certainly took his chance.”
“Next he has to break into the Fulham side. To be fair with Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes, they have got two very sturdy central defenders.”
“But all the experience we can give him will help him as a player. He will improve, there is no doubt in my mind about that, because when you tell him to do things, he takes them on board and does them. Chris is a very bright kid, listens and that gives you something to work with.”
It`s great to know we`re cultivating a decent centre half who can step straight into any holes vacated by Hangeland and Hughes in the event of a suspension or an injury!
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